Afera, the European association for the self-adhesive tape industry, has published guidelines for sustainable use of adhesive tapes.
Adhesive tapes can be part and parcel of sustainable innovations in construction, manufacturing, energy, and consumer goods applications. Afera’s guidelines aim to help simplify the tape selection process for end users, facilitating less waste generation across the duration of applications.
The report emphasises the importance of selecting the appropriate tape category and type based on specific applications. Incorrect tape choices, such as using packaging tape for air ductwork, can lead to increased waste and inefficiency.
Proper tape width, length, and thickness should match application needs to prevent waste. For instance, industrial settings benefit from longer tape rolls to minimise production disruptions, while smaller dimensions are preferred for manual tasks.
Afera also outlined efforts to advance the eco-design of tapes, including ISCC Plus certification and using its Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) tool. Developed with the German Adhesives Association and Sphera, this tool helps calculate carbon emissions across the tape supply chain.
The guidelines detail best practices for manual, semi-automatic, and automatic tape applications, emphasising precision and minimising waste. Proper storage, protected from dust, sunlight, and physical damage, is also critical for maintaining tape quality and performance.
Afera highlights the importance of recycling waste from tapes, including backing materials, release liners, and cores. Chemical recycling technologies, such as pyrolysis and gasification, are being explored to process mixed tape waste more effectively.